Machine gun and vehicle



4 Sheets-Shag; 1

R. L. wmsm MACHINE uN AND VEHICLE Filed March 7. 1913 Oct. 12 1926.,

Oct. 12 1926. 7 1,603,099 R. L. WRIGHT MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE Filed Marh '7 913 4 SbeetsSheet 2 Q N 1\ I N N 1 w 4 W Q W; 0 N g d Q ",3 Y N g:I a r I Q Q vINVENTQR.

()cto 12 1926; v L603fi99 R. L. WRIGHT MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE FiledMarch '2 1918 I 4 SheetsSheet 5 Oct 12 1926,

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R. L. WRIGHT MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE Filed March 7 918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT LEE WRIGHT, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; WILL IE CRCCKETT WRIGHTADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID ROBERT LEE WRIGHT, DECEASED.

MACHINE GUN AND VEHICLE.

7 Application filed March 7, 1918. Serial No. 221,005.

This invention has relation to machine 7 guns and has for an object toprovide ways and means to place together and mount all makes ofindividual machine guns, machine rifles, machine cannons and all otherfirearms of all calibers in a way that one man can point, fire andoperate a plurality of them both simultaneously and separately.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide ways and means toplace individual guns, rifles, cannons and all kinds of firearmstogether, preferably like men in line of battle in a suitable way sothat one man can point, fire and operate any suitable number ofindividual guns, rifles, or cannons, and all other firearms as abovementionedand fire them all simultaneously and separately at the will ofthe gun pointer or range finder, thus taking the plaoe of the largerportion of the men now used in firing and operating shoulder rifles, andother maadjusting the machine as a whole.

' of the ground it is traveling over, and to move the body of thevehicle very close to the ground or raised at the will of the gunpointeror range-finder.

Another object of this invention is the production of a machine gun,rifle, or cannon composed of individual machine guns, rifles, andcannons complete in every respect as above mentioned, and electricalmeans for operating and firing said rifles and for These guns may beplaced on any suitable stationary or disappearing mounting and alsomounted on all movable vehicle automobile or car, water crafts, aircrafts, or any movable object or conveyance,

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel details of construction and combination of parts more fullyhereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification in which like numerals designate like parts in all theviews:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through one of the guns.

Fig. l is a view of another firing lug and wheel that can be usedinstead of the one shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the said gun.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of said gun.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the complete machine with the guns mountedthereon.

Fig. 5 is a plan view. of the complete machine and i Fig. 6 is adiagrammatical view of the electric circuit for controlling theoperation of the machine gun.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawing.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, each gun consists of a barrel 1 and a cylindricalmagazine 2, suitably mounted in the breech 3 of the gun, all parts ofwhich are made of metal.

The cylinder is provided with a rim or peripheral gear 4, which isdriven by a pinion 5 on a short shaft 6. The opposite end of said shaft6 is also provided with a pinion 7 which is driven by a pinion Wheel 8with groups of teeth in spaced relation upon a motor shaft 9 driven bythe motor 10. The gun breech is extended rearwardly to provide suitablebearings for the shafts. The magazine 2 is provided with notches 11designed to be engaged by a spring latch 12 to hold said magazine inproper alignment as the gun is being fired.

The magazine is also provided with pockets-l3 to receive the cartridges.

A spring-actuated firing pin 14 is mounted tofslide in the breech and amain spring 15 furnishes the striking power for the pin 14; j The firingpin 14% has a depending lug 16 li U at the rear end thereof adapted tobe engaged by teeth or lugs 17 upon the motor shaft 9. The lugs 17 areso arranged with respect to the gear 8 that the lugs 17 will allow thelug 16 to drop oif just before the gear 8 engages the pinion 7 to movethe cylinder 2 and place another charge behind the barrel.

The cylinder 2 is mounted upon a removable shaft 18 which has securedthereto a suitable handle 18 upon one end and is threaded upon theopposite end to screw into one of a pair of hangers integral with thebreech of the gun.

As seen by the drawings, the cylinder can be easily taken out andreplaced by another filled cylinder.

The breech is further provided with a bearing 19 to engage a rod 20which is used in sighting the guns when mounted.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rifles above described are mounted inyokes 21 upon standards 22, said standards being secured to a platform23 which in turn is mounted upon a carriage 24.

The guns are free to move vertically in the yokes 21 which embracetrunnions on the guns. The rear ends of the individual machine riflesare connected together by the aforementioned rod 20, and the forwardends of the barrels are suitably connected by a rod 25.

The platform 23 has a rearwardly extending portion 26 upon which ismounted a small electric motor 27, provided with a pinion 28, saidpinion engaging a rack 29 attached to the bar 20 for raising andlowering the line of sight of the guns.

Depending from the centre of the platform 23 is a bar 30 which slidesvertically in a bearing 31 mounted upon the vehicle, automobile or car32.

The bar 30 has on one side a rack 33 engaged by a pinion 34 upon theshaft of a motor 35, as shown. The motor is designed to raise or lowerthe platform 23. The upper end of the bar 30 is secured to a disk 36provided with ball bearings 37 upon which rest a disk and gear 38, whichis part of the platform 23. Secured to the disk 36 is a motor 39, with apinion 40 upon its shaft.

The pinion 40 engages the gear 38 and under the impulses of the motorimparts a turning or horizontal motion to the platform relative to thesupporting bar 30 which is secured in the center of said platform.

The vehicle, automobile, car or carriage 32 is mounted upon wheels 41secured to standards, shafts or bars 42 mounted to rotate in bars43,'said bars being provided with rack teeth 44 to be engaged by pinions45 on the shafts of motors 46, secured beneath the platform of thecarriage vehicle.

shown in the casing 49.

44 is the well known Otis electric operated clutch secured to thesupports of the platform of the automobile or vehicle with the jaws ofthe clutch gripped on the rackbar and the electric wiring connected tothe wires operating the electric motor in a way for the clutch andelectric motor on each rack-bar to operate simultaneously, while onlyone clutch is shown there is one of the same clutches used in the sameway on each of the other three rack-bars.

The standards, shafts or bars 42 are provided with handles 47 on theirupper ends to engage segments 48 in order to steer the vehicle,automobile or car in any proper direction. 49 shows the casing or socketpart of the brace 49 through which the ground gripping part of the braceindicated by numeral 49*, is moved in order to shorten or lengthen thebrace and the length of the brace is adjusted by a bolt on the groundgripping means and the notches in the slot The brace is hinged to theframe of the vehicle or automobile or carriage 24, as designated by 49".in order to fold or lay the braces back against the frame when thebraces are not in use.

The vehicle, automobile or car may be propelled in any suitable manner.Braces 49 are hinged to the platform of the vehicle to steady it whilethe guns are being fired.

The motors 10 of the guns are controlled by a switch S and receive theirpower from a battery 50.

As shown. there is an independent circuit for each of the motors 10 aswell as a trunk circuit for all of said motors.

The motors 27, 39, 35 and 46 are controlled by a switch S motors 54 and59 by switch- All of the motors receive their power from the battery 50.I

All of the switches may be placed on one board within easy reachof theoperator.

All of the gun barrels are covered by cooling jackets as shown and thecooling fluid may be forced through the jackets and around the barrelsby a pump 51. Preferably I secure a pump 52 in the jacket of an end gun.

A piston 53 operates in the cylinder'and is connected by means of apiston rod with a pitman 53 which in turn is eccentrically connected toa disk 56 which is operated by means of a motor 54 whereby operation ofthe motor will reciprocate the piston' 53 to force air into the space 1"in the jacket surrounding the end gun. In Figure 5 it will be noted thatthe pump mechanism is located at the right hand end gun and the airafter passing around the jacket passes to the next gun through a pipe51' and from said second gun to the third through a pipe 52' 4 ward andin it is an electric fan 58 driven by 7 terminal of each served that byclosing the switch S a' sixth contact .connected in of the battery is,the switch arm into contact with an electric motor 59. c

The object of the electric fan 58 is to cool the air within thefunnel-shaped device 57 so that the pump may have a supply of cool airto draw from.

The switch S comprises five contacts, each being connected to one of themotors" 10, and common to a motors. Que motor is then led to acommoiireturn to the battery, while a terminal also connected to an .arm'comprising the switch S. Thus, by moving any of the 10 selected hand toopterminal leading to all of the individual contacts any motor may beoperated. Onthe other crate the motors 10 simultaneously and in unisonit is but necessary to bridge all of the contacts by means of the wingon the switch arm whereby all the motors will be Operated in unison.-'In the same manner the switch S comprises six contacts, four of whichare for the motors 46 and the other two for the motors-27 and 39. Itwill be obbringing the switch arm of the switch S into engagement withany of the contacts selected the motor in circuit with said contact willbe energized. By it will be observed that both the motors 59 and 54 willbe operated since they are connected in series.

In Fig. 1' elements 8, 9, 7 and 17 can be used instead of and in thesame way and in r the place of 7, 8, ,9'and 17.

49 is a handle that -is movedfrom one notch to the other to adjust thelengthof the brace 49, and 49 is a hinge where the brace folds upagainst the vehicle out of the way, see Fig. 4. I reserve the rightto-use any suitable clutch in holding the standards 43, on which thewheels of the vehicle are in place preferably like those used onelevators in buildings. I

It "s obvious that those skilled in the art may vai y the details of theconstruction as well as the arrangement ofparts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and therefore, I do not wish to be limitedto the above disclosureexcept as may be requlred by the claims. 7 3" issight on the gun. I reserve the right to use any kind 0 power to movethe vehicle or automobile on which theguns are mounted.

Having thus describedmy said invention, WhatIclainris: I 1. Amachinecomprising a-plurality saidpinion wheel of magazine rifles'mounted upona carriage, electrically operated means for operating said rifles,electrically operated means for sighting said rifles independent of thevehicle, and electrically operated means for adjusting the carriage tothe terrain in a way to prevent the vehicle from turning over andbringing the guns on a level plane regardless of the condition of theterrain, substantially as described in the specification and shown inthe drawings.

2. An automobile with wheels on axles of same having a vertical rackbar, secured to each axle, teeth on said rack bars, wheel with teeth ona shaft meshing with said teeth on each rack bar, each of saidafterbeing elevated, and means to adjust each wheel in a way to bringtheframe or body on a level regardless of the condition of the ground orterrain by operating said clutches and rotating said shafts secured tothe frame-or body of the automobile.

3. A vehicle having 'a vertical rack'bar, secured to each axle, teeth onsaid rack'bars, a pinion wheel with teeth on a shaft meshing with saidteeth on each rack bar, each of said shafts secured to the frame or bodyof the vehicle, a clutch with its jaws gripped around each rack, bar andsecured to the frame or body, of the vehicle, and means to operate eachclutch on each rack bar and rotate each shaft with pinion meshing witheach rack bar in a pinion with wheels on axles of same a way to lowerthe frame or body of the on a level regardless of the condition of theground, or terrain, by operating said clutches and rotating said'shaftssecured to the frame or body of the vehicle with the jaws of each clutchgripped around each rack bar..v

pedestal a rack bar vertically and movably mounts *in said gun pedestal,teeth on said rack vbar, an electric motor with shaft and pinionwheel'secured to said gun pedestal, meshing with the teeth on saidrack'ba13j a turn table support with race ways formedon the upwardend-of said rack bar, aturntable with race ways mounted on said support,balls in the race yvays of saidsupport and turn table in a way for midturntable to rotateon said balls, teeth ground and elevate same A guncomposed of a plurality of in-@ dividual machine guns mounted upon a gunaround the turn table, an electric motor with shaft and pinion wheelsecured to said support on the rack bar, teeth on said pinion wheelmeshing. with the teeth on the turn table, a plate mounted upon the topof said turn table, a plurality of vertical stands with yokes suitablefor mounting a plurality of machine guns mounted on said plate, and aplurality of machine guns mounted in said yokes.

5. A-gun composed of a plurality of individual machine guns, means toconnect said guns together in a way to be moved in unison, anelectric'motor with shaft on each of said guns, a spring pressed firingpin with notch or lug on same secured in each gun, a lug secured to theshaft of each electric motor in a way to engage and disengage the notchorlug on the firing pin of each gun upon rotating said shaft and apinion wheel with teeth or notches grouped on same se-. cured to theshaft of each electric motor on each gun' in a way for said groupedteeth or notches to mesh at intervals with teeth on other pinion wheelson shaft operating a cylinder or drum magazine on each of said guns in away to rotate said ma azine on each gun and fire ammunition rom saidmagazine through the barrel of each gun by the continuous rotating ofthe shaftof the electric motor on each of said guns.

6. A machine gun comprising a barrel, an electric motor with shaftcomprising a firing shaft for said gun, a spring pressed firing pin,with notch or lug on same, secured in said 11, a lug secured to theshaft of said electric motor 1n a way to engage anddisengage the notchor lug on the firing pin of said gun, upon rotating said shaft, and apinion wheel with teeth or notches grouped on same secured to the shaftof the electric motor secured to said un, in a way for said groupedteeth or notclies to mesh at intervals with teeth on other pinion wheelon a shaft operating a cylinder or drum magazine on said gun in' a wayto rotate said magazine onsaid gun and fire ammunition from saidmagazine through the barrel of said gun by the continuous rotating ofthe shaft of said electricmotor on said gun.

7. A machine gun comprising a barrel, an electric motor with shaftcomprising a firing shaft forsaid gun secured thereto, a spring pressedfiring pin with notch or lug on same secured in said'gun, a lug securedto the shaft of said electric motor in a way to engage and disengage thenotch or lug on the firing pin secured in said upon rotating said shaftand a pinion w eel with teeth or notches groupedon same secured to .theshaft of the electric motor on said gunin a way ,for said grouped teethor notches to mesh at intervals with teeth on other pinion wheel on avshaft having teeth or notches on the.

eadof said shaft'meshing teeth or notches on a cylinder or drum magazineon said gun in a way to rotate said magazine on said gun and fireammunition from said magazine through the barrel of said 'gun by thecontinuous rotating of the shaft of said electric motor on said gun.

' 8. A gun mount comprising a wheel slipported platform, a standardmounted'thereon, a rack bar vertically movable the standard, a supporton said rack bar, a turn table rotatably mounted on said support anelectrically operable means for rotatingthe turntable, and a pluralit ofmachine guns mounted on said turn ta le.;

9. In a machine gun, the combination of a barrel and means for passinair and fluid around the barrel, a rotatab e drummagazine, means toinsert cartridges and ammunition into the drum magazine in a way to berotated to the breech of the barrel in osition to be fired through thebarrel o the gun, notches around the exterior of the drum magazine,meshing with a pinion onone end of a shaft, the other end of the shafthavlng a pinion meshing with the grouped teeth in spaced relation on thepinion wheel on the shaft of the electric motor, a firing pm 7engageable with a spring and 2. lug on the shaft of the electric motorto engage the firing pin in a way to force it backward against thespring upon the movement of the shaft of the electric motor, a pair ofsights mounted upon said guns, and any suitable ways and means tooperate the electric motor and turn the shaft and fire and operate thegun b the continuous motion of the shaft'of thee ectric motor.

10. In a gun composed of a plurality of guns and means for passin airand fluid around the barrels, a rotata le drum magazine for each gun,means to insert cartridges and ammunition into the drummagazine of eachgun in a way to be rotated to the breech of the barrel of each gun inposition to be fired through the barrel of each gun, notches around theexterior of the magazine of each gun meshing with a plnion on one end ofa shaft of each gun, the other end of the shaft of each gun having a.pm-

ion meshing with the grouped teeth in spaced relation on the pinionwheel of each on the shaft of the electric motor of eac a firing pinengageable with a spring on' each gun, and a lug on the shaft of theelectr c motor of each gun to engage the firing pm on each gun to springon each the shaft of the electric motor of each gun, a pair of sightsmounted upon one gun, and any suitable ways and means to operate themotor on each gun, and turn the shaft on each gun and fire and operateeach any suitable ways and means "Di power to force it backward againstthe gun upon the movement of gun, and

turn the shaft on each gun o nt,-fire.

and operate each gun both taneq a and separately by distant control andotherwise.

11. A plurality of guns, each of said guns having a barrel and means forplacing ammunition in position to be fired from said guns and a singlecontinuously rotating means to fire simultaneously said guns.

12. A gun mount comprising a leveling platform, a vertically adjustableturntable supported thereby, a motor and adjusting rack and piniontherefor, a plurality of relatively fixed rackbar supports for saidplatform, separate elevating motors geared to the rackbars and carriedby the platform, and platform retaining devices whereby one or more ofthe motors can be operated to adjust the platform and the latter lockedin the adjusted position to conform to the terrain.

13. A portable gun mount, compris ig a leveling platform, a verticallyadjustable turntable supported by said platform, a plurality of rack barwheel supports for said platform separate elevating motors gearing withthe 'rackbars and carried by the platform and a releasable retainingconnection between each vraclzzbar and the platform whereby one or moreof the motors can be form to the terrain.

14. A machine gun comprising a pivoted barrel and cylindrical magazine,an operat ing motor carried by the gun, motor operating connectionsincluding a transverse motor shaft provided with a cooking In and with amutilated gear wheel, a longitu inal shaft geared therewith, and at theopposite end geared with the magazine cylinder.

15. The combination of a machine gun comprising a plurality ofindividual guns each having its separate pivotal axis and magazine,means connecting the guns Whereby all can be tilted, as a unit, anoperating motor carried-by each gun with a gun mount comprising aleveling platform and vertically adjustable turntablecarried thereby,and separate motors mounted on the platform and cooperating withrelatively fixed rack bar supports whereby the platform can be adjustedand leveled with respect to the terrain.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT LEE' WRIGHT.

